The Press., 1887-08-25
The Asy ylu mn for the Insane at Topeka.

One Of the state institutions located 8t the capital city is the insane asylum, situ- ated about two miles northwest from the capital, on rising ground, commanding 8 fine view of the city and of the country for miles around. Pertaining to the institu- ton is quarter section of land, cultivated in large part by such of the inmates as are willing to work, and whose physical and mental condition justiies it. .1 s-
 The farm is being constantly improved and beautified by grading, planting trees and trimming out the forest, or Climber, {" as it is expressed here. ~"
 Large sums of money are being expend- ed in the erection of fine buildings of stone, to accommodate the unfortunate in- sane of the state for the coming ages, the benignant care of whom, the attending surgeon informed me, is gratuity from the state, no charge being made therefor against the patients or their friends, ''except in Especial cases," the special character of which he did not state. The present number of patients is about $40. The chairman of the senate committee on charitable institutions informed me that the state in like manner pays the expenses of them all. Whether it is precisely just to tax the people for the care and support of persons who have property of their own is problem. But they have here very large style of doing things, which, even in the matter of taxation, is rather startling, especially to thevictims. t
 BOSTON CoRBETT.
 Being curious to see the noted slayer of John Wilkes Booth, that dastardly assassin of President Lincoln, I recently went out to the asylum, of which he is an inmate, hand, learning that he was with ''gang'' taking their regnlar outdoor exercise, went out to discover, if possible, the where abonts of the gang, and get sight of Cor. bett. Certain peculiarities of dress and figure having been described to me, and perceiving in gang of men approaching the asylum one whom very well answered the description, I awaited near the road along which they were passing, and, as my man came up, stepped up to him and asked if Mir. Corbett was in the gang? As he seemed to not understand my question, I repeated it, when, with quick, nervous ''no, no, and expression of countenance peculiar to the insane, he hurried on. Looking back upon the advancing, strag- gling corners, to distinguish if I might see some one who appeared to be an undoubt- ed tkeeper, and not a patient, accosted rather dignified gentleman with the same question. He answered yes, and that the man I had inst spoken to was Corbett. Walking along with him I told him of my desire to see that noted character. He en. deavored to point out to me person in the gang who might assist me to attain my object. As. I did not readily distinguish the one he designated, he said it was diff Ecult to do 80, as there was not much diff ference between them, when I remarked that for that reason had felt some embar rassment in addressing any one lest he might chance to be patient, and was greatly taken aback at his reply, both from it's formal style and the fact stated-"He that you are now speaking to is one oi them l" Upon my expressing surprise, he added that he was only temporarily so, fol certain physical Arrangements which would soon be cured. could not help recalling to mind a statement, have sometime read, of the large per cent. of persons whom we see in the daily business of life who are in reality more or less off theil balance mentally, who yet do not exhibit to the observer any special peculiarities and also of the narrowness of the dividing line between those accounted sound and many doubtless mentally disturbed.
 Passing through the wards an hour latel Emy new friend, with pleasant smile and bow, recognized me, and seated near the door of his ward was the man came tC simply look upon-Boston Corbett. Iu stature he is below the average of man, l judge about it. 6 or inches in height rather unrefned in look, think, even in health, and he parts his hair very accurate ly in the middle. One can scarcely realize that that is the man whose averaging shot slew the murderer of President Lincoln.
 I At the time of Corbett's assignment tc the asylum communication appeared ir the Springfield Republican respecting his exploits in the capitol, in which the writer drew largely from the mystical realm oi sheer fancy for many of his facts. Cor bett did aOt "pace back and forth in the corridor of the house of representatives preventing egress and ingress from and tc the hall, 9 nor did he keep the house ir session awaiting his pleasure for their re lease, nor at the proper time, or mny time send in word that the house might adjourn That was all fancy.
 I At the examination before the probate Ijudge, Representative Conrad testified thal as he came out of his committee room l Corbett confronted him, with revolver ir hand, and said (mistakine him for Speaker HJohnson): s.Mr. Speaker, you can dis charge one, but you cannot discharge me. 7 Williams, one of the messengers for the sergeant-at-arms, testified that 'severy morn | s- Ha EralN